Washing machine



April 11, 1961 s. c. HILTON 2,979,063

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 2'7, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 8' Invenionaeo Ea W 858 by Mae M April 11, 1961 s. c. HILTON WASHING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 27, 1958 Iawezziio si'fwazey CCHzZfam ,9 fmz: adieu-'64 April 11, 1961 5, HILTON 2,979,063

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 'azziey 0. WW: {by film. W *M fliii'om'zegs April 1961 s. c. HILTON 2,979,063

WASHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 11, 1961 HlL-roN 2,979,063

WASHING MACHINE United States Patent '0 WASHING MACHINE Stanley C. Hilton, Brookline, Mass., assignor to C. Yardley Chittick, Boston, Mass.

Filed Mar. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 724,448

lClaim. c1.1s4-'-'17 The invention relates to automatic washing and cleaning machines of the general type disclosed in the patent to Bingham, 2,619,975, but constituting an improvement thereover.

While the machine of the present invention is designed principally for use in washing and cleaning small parts through the use of suitable chemical solutions, it will be understood that it may be made in larger dimensions so that it may clean larger articles.

The general mode of operation of the present invention is to place the objects to be cleaned in a basket suitably mounted for successive immersions in a plurality of jars or containers containing suitable liquids with the jars preferably arranged in a circle. The basket may be transferred from jar to jar by means of suitable raising and lowering and indexing 'means or the basket may be merely raised and lowered while the jars are shifted step by step through the use of a rotating table. 1 During the cleaning phase of the cycle of operation at which time the basket is immersed in the cleaning solution, the basket may be rotated about its vertical axis either continuously in one direction or periodically reversed. This type of basket motion, however, is not preferred because rotation ofthe basketstirs up the liquid causing the dirt or grime from previous cleanings to be stirred up and mixed with the solution thereby causing the parts to be washed in a dirty solution. A better I, "2,979,063 Patented Apr. 11,19 1

jar is tall enough so that when the basket has been raised above the level of the liquid it will still be within the jar as the liquid spin-ofi operation is carried out. Machines operated by hydraulic mechanism have been made to perform in this manner, but such machines are bulky, expensive and experience has shown that they get out of order all too easily.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a machine capable'of spinning off in the upper part of the solution jar and which functions entirely mechanically except for the electric motor or motors which'supply the motive power.

A further deficiency of previous machines of this gen-- eral type has been their inability to vary the time cycle of the washing operation. In cases where very dirty parts are to be cleaned, it has been found that the washing cycle should be lengthened, and conversely when the if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of sufiiciently compact size to be placed conveniently on a workbench. In a preferred form, there will be four 7 jars for cleaning and rinsing solutions and a fifth or drytype of basket agitation is the up and down movement liquid in which the basket is immersed remainssubstantially undisturbed so that the dirt and grime from previous cleanings which has collected on the bottom remains there. Thus the cleaning solution is uncontami nated and is more eifective in cleaningthe parts in the basket. t

ing position Where the parts on leaving the last rinsing jar maybe quickly and .thoroughly dried for immediate use thereafter. These and other objects of the invention will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section showjing the basket in down position in one of the jars. Fig. 1a is an enlarged horizontal sectiono'n the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 showing the spline connection between the drivingand driven shafts. i 1 Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking from the right of Fig. 1 approximately on the lines 8-8 of Figs. 1 and 5, the upper parts of the five jars and the basket supporting mechanism being omitted;

One of the deficiencies of previous automatic mechanical cleaning devices ofthis general type has been the con-" tamination of the cleaning solution in the next jar by solution carried thereto by the basket and parts therein on leaving the preceding jar. 'To cure this difficulty, empty jars have been positioned'betwe'en jarscontaining cle'ansolution but has consumed toomuch time, has necessitated use of too many jars and resulted in too bulky a machine. Furthermore, the cleaning or rinsing soluti'on is used up too; rapidly as a substantial amount is' transferred from the solution jar to the next empty spin-off jar. Accordingly, it has'been proposed that mechanism be provided in whichthe spin-off o'per-atio'n'takes place while the basketis still within the confines ofthe'jai containing the cleaning orrinsing' solutionr; This-is possible-if the 55 "approximately on the line 10-19 of Fig. 5.

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the basket raising mechanism having functioned to move the basket upward to spin-oflf position in its jar and above the liquid level., v Y Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and'3 but looking at the machine from the other side and withthe basket lifting mechanism now in maximum up position and with the indexing mechanism in operation. Fig.' 4 is taken Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower part of the machine taken approximately on the line 11-41 of Fig. l. 1 Fig; 6' is a top [plan view looking down on the machine as shown in Fig. 7 but with all the jars included,

Fig. 7 is a frontelevation of the lower'portion er the machine with some'parts broken away. v Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram for the machine disclosediri Figs. 1.to7iri'clusive. The invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8 will now be described. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the machine com: prises two spaced plates 26th and 262 rigidly connected by, a plurality of posts 2&4; and so constructed that the two spaced plates will be rigid'with respect to] eaclfotherl Two motors 'are'u'sed. Motor 236 acts to raise anew-er basket 208 and-to index-the basket when "it has-been raised to a'position above the jarl Motor 2ltl'lact's toi periodically; put the basket drive shaft? in motion undefi the influence of a cam 212 mounted on cam shaft 214 driven by motor 206. Cam shaft 214 also carries lifting earn 216 and indexing cam 21 8.

Motor 206 through conventional reduction gears drives worm 220 and coacting gear 222 which rotates cam shaft 214 counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Cam shaft 214 is carried by bearings suitably located in vertical plates 224 and 226. Bearing plate 226 has mounted thereon at pivot 228 a lifting arm 230, on the outer end of which is a roller 232 positioned to engage the underside of a circular plate 234. A cam engaging roller 2'36 attached to lifting arm 230 is positioned for engagement. with lifting cam 216. The elfect of the rotation of cam 216 on lifting arm 230 as it is rotated by cam shaft 214 can be observed by noting the positions of the parts in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 2 shows the position of arm 230 when the basket is at maximum down position. Fig. 3 shows the position of arm 230 as the basket is dwelling in the upper part of the jar above the liquid level, and Fig. 4 shows the position of arm 230 when it has been raised to maximum up position above the top of the jar Where it may be indexed to the next jar.

The structure of the basket supporting mechanism is as follows: Referring first to Fig. l, the annular bearing ring 234 is secured to the lower end of tubular supporting shaft 238. This shaft is mounted in a cylindrical sleeve or bushing 240 mounted in upper plate 202 in such mann'er that supporting'shaft 238 can slide up and down freely therewithin. The upper end of shaft 238 has fixed thereto a transversely extending basket carrying arm 242 on one end of which is a cylindrical housing 244 carrying suitable bearings for supporting basket shaft 246, on the lower end of which is basket 208.

Within tubular shaft 238 is the extensible drive shaft mechanism which comprises an inner shaft 248 fixed to gear 250 and having its lower end mounted in bearing 252. Gear 250 cooperates with gear 254 driven by motor 210. Inner shaft 248 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and has no vertical movement. The upper end of this shaft is indicated at 256 and for substantially all of the length of the shaft is a keyway 258 which may be seen more plainly in the enlarged cross-section shown in Fig. la, which is taken on the line 77 of Fig. l.

Surrounding shaft248 is a tubular drive shaft 260 which is vertically slidable with respect to shaft 248 and is caused to rotate therewith by means of a pin 262 secured in the lower wall of shaft 260 with its inner end position within keyway 258. (See Fig. 1a.)

A axis. As previously pointed out, this method of cleaning is considered less desirable because the agitation of the cleaning solution stirs up all the dirt that has accumulated from prior cleaning operations.

In a preferred form and as illustrated in the several figures, there will be five positions which will include a first cleaning jar 278a, a second cleaning jar 278b, a first rinse jar 2780 and a second rinse jar 278d, followed by a final drying position at 278a. In each of the first four jars there will be liquid as illustrated injar 278 shown in Fig. 1 in which, the liquid level is indicated at 280. After the cleaning operation has taken place in the liquid, the

cam 216 raises lever 230 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Here there is a period of dwell with the basket 208 remaining in the upper part of jar 278 above the liquid level where spin off occurs.

Agitation of the basket 208 in the liquid while the basket is in lowermost position is achieved through actuation of motor 210. This is brought about through the cooperation of cam 212 with the roller 282 on the actuating arm of switch 284. When the roller 282 is pushed to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 by the high portions of cam 212, the switch will be closed and motor 210 will function to drive basket shaft 246. Cam 212 is so constructed and related to lifting cam 216 that the motor 210 is first actuated while the basket is in downmost position in the jar. Then motor 210 and basket 208 are stopped as the baskettravels upward from the position in V rotation of cam shaft 214 producing the lifting and in- The upper and lower ends of shaft 260 are fixed to the interior races of bearings 263 and 264, the bearings being of such character that when shaft 238 is moved vertically by lifting arm 230 acting on the annular plate 234, the tubular drive shaft 260 will be carried upwardly with it,

sliding along inner shaft 248. In this way no matter what vertical position is assumed by tubular shaft 238, rotation of shaft 248 will be transmitted to shaft 260. On the upper end of shaft 260 is a pulley 266 which drives belt 268 and pulley 270 on the upper end ofbasket shaft 246. From. the description just given, it is believed clear that whenever motor 210 is in operation basket shaft 246 will be rotated and correspondingly basket 208' will be appropriately moved. If as shown in Fig. 1 basket shaft 246 is connected to the basket by the mechanism in housing" 272 which may contain ,the 'oscillating and dexing of the basket while there is intermittent rotation of basket shaft 246 to produce the required basket motion at the proper time. I p

The indexing of the basket from one jar to the next is accomplished by the following mechanism:

Cam shaft 214'rotates cam 218 in fixed relation with cams 212 and 216. Cam 218 coacts with a roller 28 6 fixed to one arm 288 of a. parallel linkage consisting of arm 288 and arm 290, both of which are pivoted at 292 and 294 respectively and connected at their upper ends by a horizontally extending indexing arm 296. Arm 290 has an extension 298 urged by spring 300 counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus roller 286 is held in-constant engagement with indexing cam 218.

Indexing arm 296 has a lateral extension301 on the I end of which is a finger. 302 extending at right angles to the extension 301. The vertical location of finger- 302 is such that when'the circular plate 234 and the related supporting shaft 238 and basket 208 have reached maximum up position as shown in Fig. 14, the indexing pins 304 i mounted on the upper face of plate 234 will be on the same levelas fingerv 302 so that when the finger is moved transversely through operation of the parallel linkage from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to that of Fig. 4, finger 302 will engage one of pins 304 as shown in Fig. 5 to rotate the plate 234 and shaft 238 clockwise through one-fifthof a circle. In so doing, the basket will, be shifted from, a position over the jar from which it has just been raised to a position overthe next jar into which it is-about to be lowered.

basket. In this way upon rotation'of shaft 246 cleaning of the parts in basket 208 occurs through vertical "oscillaa tion of the basket. If desired, the mechanism in housing When indexing has been completed, the lifting. cam

' 216 then lowers plate 234 and theassociated pins 304.

to bottom position,'after which the cam actuated,;parallel linkage, influenced by-spring 300, will return finger 302 to a position where it can act'on the next pin 304 when heating element at 278e and its surrounding container into which: the basket is lowered for drying of the articles. When raised from the heating element position, the shut ofi pin 306 extending radially from plate 234 and shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, 'will immediately after commencement of indexing engage the roller 307 on switch arm 308 to open the circuit to the lifting motor 206. All operation then ceases for at this time the switch 284 controlled by cam 212 will likewise be open.

In order to insure the basket being in alignment with the jar when lowered therein, there is provided an indexing pin 324 (see Fig. 1) carried by arm 242 which, if in proper position, drops into an appropriately located hole 326 in plate 328 as the basket is lowered. If the basket should not be in proper position for entry in the jar, then the lower end of pin 324 will not enter hole 326 but instead willengage the top surface of plate 328 so that the lowering of the basket is prevented until corrective procedures have been undertaken. Plate 328 is mounted on top of a spider 330 designed to receive and hold firmly in place the four jars and the heater container. (See Fig. 6.)- This spider rests on top of a cylindrical sleeve 332, the lower end of which rests on plate 202. The entire assembly consisting of plate 328, spider 330 and sleeve 332, all of which parts are concentrically arranged with respect to shaft 238 and its bushing 240, are held securely in position by five tie bolts 334. With five operating positions, plate 328 will have five equally spaced holes 326, each positioned adjacent the jar which will receive the basket when the guide pin 324 drops into the appropriate hole.

Each of the arms of spider 330 has a hole 336 so located. as to receive anti-vibration pin 338 mounted on the other end of arm 242 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6. Guide pin 324 and anti-vibration pin 338 help to minimize vibration caused by unbalance of articles in basket 208 during the spin-off operation. Pin 338 is long enough so that it remains in hole 336 when the basket is in intermediate spin-ofi position.

The general arrangement of the electrical controls is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 7, the vertically disposed control panel 314 includes two switches 316 and 318 and two rheostats 320 and 322. These switches and rheostats are also indicated in the circuit diagram in Fig. 8. To start the machine, switches 316 and 318 are both closed, but this does not start either of the motors 206 and 210 because both switches 312 and 284 are open. At this time the basket 208 will normally be stopped in a position above and midway between the heatingposition and the first cleaning jar. The operator rotates the basket by hand to a position over the first cleaning jar so that the indexing pin 324 may drop into the appropriate hole 326 in plate 328. At the same time, switch 312 is reclosed as pin 306 is moved away from roller 307. This immediately puts motor 206 in operation so that the cam shaft 214 and associated cams commence rotation. The speed of motor 206 can be controlled by the setting of rheostat 320. The appropriate high spot on cam 212 rotating on shaft 214 puts the basket driving motor 210 into operation at appropriate times. The speed of this motor likewise can be controlled by the setting of rheostat 322. If during any stage of the washing cycle it is considered desirable to extend the duration of vertical oscillation of the basket in either of the cleaning or rinsing solutions because the elements being cleaned are particularly dirty, this may be accomplished by opening switch 316 which stops motor 206 and any further rotation of cam 214 without atfecting motor 210 which continues in operation causing extending actuation ofbasket 208 until such time as rotation of cam 214 is restored by reclosing of switch 316.

The heater indicated at 340 is brought into operation whenever switch 318 is closed. The heater begins to warm up at the commencement of the cycle, and by the time the basket reaches the heater position the air in the heater container is at maximum temperature and drying (See Figs. 1 and 6.)

is more eifectively accomplished. There may be included a pilot light 342 which will show whenever switch 318 is closed. It will be noted that when switch 318 has been opened, the machine will be completely'shut down as no current can reach either motor 206 or motor 210.

Novel means have been provided for releasably securing each of the jars 278 in place. These jars in Fig. 6, i

it is preferable that it spin both at lowermost and inter-' mediate positions because the hot air is thus rendered most effective for drying the parts.

Each of the jars is releasably secured against the spider 330 by means of a curved band 342, the end of which is bent as at 344 to be securely held against the appropriate leg of the spider by means of bolt 346 and Wing nut 348.

To remove any jar for filling or cleaning, it is merely necessary to loosen wing nut 348, which will enable the band 342 to be swung enough away so that thejar can be taken out without disturbing any of the other jars.

As was suggested earlier in the description, the number of jars may be varied if desired, and this can be done by changing the number of legs on the spider and changing the number of guide holes 326- and anti-vibration holes 336 to correspond with the number of positions elected. Additionally, of course, the number of pins 304 used in the indexing operation will be changed to agree with the number of washing, rinsing and drying positions;

The present disclosure is also intended to include a construction in which the indexing of the basket from jar to jar is accomplished by rotating the jars under the basket instead of rotating the basket over the jars as herein shown.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A washing machine comprising vertically spaced upper and lower plates, a plurality of liquid containers circularly arranged on said upper plate for successively receiving a basket containing articles to be cleaned, means for raising and lowering said basket with respect to each container, means for actuating the basket when in the liquid of a container, means for causing said basket to spin off when in the upper part of each container above the liquid, means for causing said basket to be moved from one container to the next when in a position above said containers, said means comprising a first motor mounted on the lower plate, a cam shaft continuously driven thereby, first, second and third cams on said cam shaft, a second motor mounted on the lower plate for causing actuating and spinning of said basket when in a container, a switch for closing the circuit of said second motor and intermittently operated by said first cam, a rotatable and vertically extensible shaft having two concentric parts, one of said parts having a horizontally disposed gear thereon connected with and driven by said second motor, a centrally located opening through said upper plate, a tubular bearing having its lower end mounted in said opening, a vertically movable supporting shaft slidable in said tubular bearing and surrounding said extensible shaft and having a collar on its lower end, a lever arm actuated by said second cam, said lever arm having one end thereof positioned under said collar whereby when said lever arm is raised said supporting shaft will be raised, said second cam shaped to hold said lever armstationary for predetermined periods while said basket is in said' liquid and while said basket is above said liquid and within said container and "while said basket is above said container, the other of the parts of said extensible shaft rotatably carried by said supporting shaft whereby upon upward movement of said supporting shaft said other part of said extensible shaft will be correspondingly moved upward while still in rotative engagement with said one part of said extensible shaft, a spider mounted on the upper end of said tubular bearing, said spider having arms which act to locate said containers on said upper plate, a transverse basket shaft arm and a basket shaft carried thereby and operatively related to said supporting shaft, means actuated by the other part of said extensible shaft for rotatably driving said basket shaft, said basket operatively connected to said basket shaft so that upon rotation of said basket shaft the basket will be actuated, said transverse arm extending beyond said supporting shaft and away from said basket, two pins depending from said transverse basket arm, one pin being between said supporting shaft and basket shaft and the other pin being on the opposite side of said supporting shaft, corresponding holes in said spider to receive said pins upon downward movement of said supporting shaft when said basket is aligned with a container, said pins acting to insure the angular position of said transverse arm with respect to said containers and to minimize vibration of said basket during its operation, a plurality of angularly spaced elements on said collar,v said elements spaced according to the angular spacing of said containers; 3' leveractuated by said third when said collar and supporting shaft are in raised position andsaid basket is above said containers, sa'id lever including element engaging means whereby one of said elements will be engaged and moved angularlythe'reby to move said basket through a corresponding angle to the position of the next container and with said pins located over an other pair of corresponding holes in said spider, said first cam for actuating said second motor and basket timed with respect to said second cam so that said second motor will be in operation for predetermined times while said basket is submerged in said liquid and whilesaid basket is above saidliquid andwithin said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,236 Fisher & July 14, 1953 2,784,724 Fisher .4 Mann, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 652,704 Great Britain May 2, 1951 

